Re: JP 2

[Derek Tearne <derek@iconz.co.nz>]

> 
>  
>Most of Criton's novels exhibit a wealth of research or at least they seem to 
>have a lot of technical mumbo-jumbo. 

Indeed.  They are quite well researched and full of technical mumbo-jumbo.
However when one reads a book who's plot hinges on ones lifelong 
interest (dinosaurs) and trade (computers)the book has holes one 
could stampede a herd of Sauropods through.  When did he say the 
Caeolacanth [1] line dated from?

Not only that there were some amusing inconsitancies.  He makes a big fuss 
about the park technicians not being able to keep track of the dinosaurs 
in the park.  Yet he himself mentions recreated creatures which aren't 
shown in the numbered list of animals [2].  

>However, no one on this list has 
>mentioned the fact that the nonhuman inhabitants of the ficticious island 
>were genetically coded to be dependant one a certain chemical. According
>to the story, once the keepers quit placing said chemical into the food 
>supply, the animals would become re-extinct. This notion was dwelled on 
>in the book and only touched on in the movie. 

Crichton's premise throughout the book is that some systems are too 
complex to predict and that people make glaring errors based on 
incorrect assumptions/beliefs.

they were wrong about them not being able to breed so perhaps they
didn't quite get the Lysine dependancy quite right either.

It's quite clear that the Hammond character would not have 
countenanced testing the dependancy out by depriving one of the 
dinosaurs of Lysine.

Anyway, as Grant said, life will find a way,

>Either way, a sequall to 
>Jurasic Park just wouldn't be the same without the dinosaurs and I fail 
>to see how any of the dinos could survive.

In the book the island was toasted by the military (who are also 
imperfect and wouldn't necessarily have killed every dinosaur on 
the island).  However, at the very end of the book strange tracks 
are seen going across the mainland, curiously lingering at lysine 
rich crops.

The sequel to the book would have Grant and co following the dino's 
on the mainland.

However, what we don't know about the movie is how soon after the 
first film ends does the second one begin.

The only plausible way I can see that all the characters (especially 
the children) could be returned to the island is if the helicopter 
turns back.  Engine failure would be dramatic (but might mean a very 
short movie - JP Vs Jaws), however low fuel, bad weather or even the 
military, could force them to return right away.  That would be my bet.

In which case the Dino's wouldn't have had enough time 
to suffer from lysine deficiency.  Not quite long enough for 
the island to be overrun by baby deino^h^h^h^h^hvelociraptors though.

(I like the idea of the T. rex going to bite Hammond's head off, but 
stopping at the last moment and squeaking 'Momma' [3])

--- Derek

[1] Amazing how spelling checkers don't include this name...

[2] There are aquatic reptiles in the lake - conveniently mentioned in 
passing but not listed later, after all, how on earth did he expect 
to get DNA from an aqautic reptile...  - not to mention the giant 
dragonflies flitting about...

[3] Hammond was reportedly present at _all_ the hatchings , not 
just the velociraptors we saw in the movie).


---
Derek Tearne.                 --            derek@iconz.co.nz   
Some of the more environmentally aware dinosaurs were worried about the
consequences of an accident with the new Iridium enriched fusion reactor.
"If it goes off only the cockroaches and mammals will survive..." they said.